Method and apparatus for transforming fluid power



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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORMING FLUID POWER 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5 Filed Nov.

INVENTOR. Pay 5 fizz e/0 0 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,401,638 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS- FORMING FLUID POWER Roy S. Cataido, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. N 593,049 19 Claims. (Cl. 103-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus are disclosed for transforming fluid power by the conversion of primary flow and differential pressure into a secondary flow and differential pressure. A primary fluid flow is established in a direction perpendicular to a spin axis and spun about the spin axis to transform the primary fluid power into secondary fluid flow in a direction perpendicular to the spin axis and transverse to the primary flow without producing substantial resultant centrifugal force in the flow directions. By this method and apparatus, the two flows have impedance that are functions of the spin velocity which is variable.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transforming fluid power, and more particularly to such a method and apparatus employing the force acting on a spinning particle of mass having a linear velocity.

There are several hitherto known methods for exchanging fluid energy. In the mixing fluid energy transfer method, a high energy driving flow is merged with a low energy driven flow with the emerging mixed flow having an intermediate energy level. In the pressure wave energy transfer method, pressure waves induced within the fluid act as energy transfer vehicles. In a third method, energy transfer is effected indirectly such as by the employment of compounded dynamic machinery in which the energy of a working fluid flow is extracted by a mechanical device and transferred to another flow.

My invention provides a substantially lossless fluid impedance method of direct fluid power transformation in which a primary flowing fluid is spun about an axis transverse to the flow to induce a secondary fluid flow having different flow and pressure values and a fluid impedance converter of fluid transformer for carrying out this method. The fluid power transformer structure has a pair of intersecting fluid-flow passages mounted to spin about the intersection of the passages, functioning with unchanging passage structure when there is fluid flow under pressure in one passage to create a fluid flow under pressure in the other passage. The relationship of the impedance or flow and pressure values of these flows varies with spin velocity. I call this fluid power transformer a fluid gyrator, because I believe that the fluid gyrator principle and equations which I have devised from the Coroiolis force equation aptly describe the operation.

In carrying out my method for transforming fluid power, a continuous primary fluid flow is established in a direction substantially perpendicular to a spin axis and the primary fluid is continuously spun in relation to the spin axis. The power represented by the primary fluid flow is continuously transformed into secondary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis and transverse to the primary flow direction without producing substantial resultant centrifugal forces in the flow directions to provide the two flows with impedances which are functions of the spin velocity. The fluid impedance product of the primary and secondary flow is varied by varying the spin velocity and with an 3,401,638 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 unregulated pressure and flow rate in one flow stream, the pressure and flow rate in the other flow stream is regulated by operation of the impedance transformation.

An apparatus which I term a fluid gyrator transformer for carrying out the above process comprises a reaction chamber rotatable about a spin axis, A pair of fluid passages rotatable with the reaction chamber are provided for directing the primary and secondary fluid flows to and from the reaction chamber in primary and secondary, substantially radial flow directions which are perpendicular to each other and the spin axis and a powered spin drive is provide dfor spinning the rotary structure. The reaction chamber is centered on the spin axis and each flow passage has an entrance and exit centered on the spin axis connected to stationary ports so that the fluid just entering and just leaving the rotary passages has no substantial spin velocity. Each flow passage comprises an inlet passage diverging outward from the entrance and then diverging radially inward to the reaction chamber and an outlet passage extending radially outward from the reaction chamber diametrically opposite the associated inlet passage connection to the reaction chamber and then diverging inward to the exit. The inlet and outlet passages of the primary and secondary flow passages carry the same mass flow and act as pump and motor elements simultaneously supplying and extracting the energy required to spin the mass particles so that no substantially external power is required for this function neglecting mechanical and fluid friction losses. In other words, the configurations of the transformer passages pre cludes the development of substantial resultant centrifugal forces along both the primary and secondary flow direction so that the transformer does not require any power about the spin axis to bring a fluid particle from rest at the passage entrances up to spin velocity about the spin axis and subsequently bring the fluid particle spin velocity back to zero at the passage exits, neglecting mechanical and fluid friction losses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for transforming fluid power.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for continuously transforming fluid power employing the force acting on a particle of mass having a linear velocity component perpedicular to an axis about which it is spinning.

Another object is the provision of a method and apparatus for transforming fluid power by establishing a primary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a spin axis and spinning the primary fluid in relation to the spin axis to transform the primary fluid power into secondary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis and transverse to the primary flow without producing substantial resultant centrifugal forces in the flow directions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for transforming fluid power by the conversion of a primary flow and differential pressure into a secondary flow and differential pressure to provide the two flows with impedances which are functions of the fluid spin velocity.

Another object is to provide a method of transforming fluid power by giving a fluid mass a linear velocity component perpendicular to an axis about which it is spinning to convert input power represented by the product of a primary mass flow rate and differential pressure into output power represented by a secondary mass flow rate and differential pressure.

Another object is to provide a method of transforming fluid power employing a spinning primary fluid flow to induce a secondary fluid flow having a differential pressure which is a function of the primary flow rate and the square of the spin velocity.

Another object is to provide a' method of transforming fluid power by spinning a primary flow to induce a secondary flow and provide each flow with an impedance which is a function of the spin velocity, and varying the spin velocity to vary the impedance product of the primary and secondary flow.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for transforming fluid power by establishing a primary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a spin axis, spinning the primary fluid in relation to the spin axis to transform the power represented by the primary fluid flow into secondary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis and the primary flow direction and regulating the flow rate and pressure of one of the flows.

Another object is to provide a fluid transformer providing a primary fluid flow through a spinning chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to the chambers spin axis and fixed relative to the chamber to transform the primary fluid power into secondary fluid power in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis, transverse to the primary flow direction and fixed relative to the chamber.

Another object is to provide a fluid power transforming device employing a reaction chamber rotatable about a spin axis and fluid passages rotatable with the reaction chamber and connected to stationary supply and return passages with connections centered on the spin axis for directing a primary fluid flow and a secondary fluid flow to and from the reaction chamber in primary and secondary, intersecting, substantially radial flow directions without producing substantial resultant centrifugal forces in the primary and secondary flow direction and without producing substantial spin velocity of the fluid just entering and just leaving the spinning passages.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the basic fluid gyrator element.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal view with parts in section of one embodiment of the fluid transformer for carrying out the method of the present invention which may be employed in the power system shown diagrammatically.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 33 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view taken on the line 5-5 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view taken on the line 66 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal view with parts in section of another embodiment of the fluid transformer for carrying out the method of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the line 88 in FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view taken on line 99 in FIGURE 7.

The basic fluid gyrator element at any instant of time is illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing and consists of a pair of fluid channels intersecting at right angles and continuously spinning about a spin axis with an angular velocity with the volume common to the two channels at the intersection providing a reaction zone or chamber. When there exists a primary flow in one of the channels, the power represented by the primary flow is continuously converted in the reaction chamber into secondary flow in the other channel by the continuously spinning channels with the fluid impedance or ratio of dilferential pressure across the reaction chamber to flow in each channel a function of the angular spin velocity. This fluid phenomenon may be shown to be based upon the Coriolis forces acting upon a fluid element,

The Coriolis force equation for a particle of mass spinning about an axis may be written as:

where:

F =Coriolis force m=Mass w =Angular velocity u=Component of the relative linear velocity of the mass particle perpendicular to w Thus, any particle of mass which has a linear velocity component perpendicular to an axis about which it is spinning must be subjected to a Coriolis force. The pressure-flow relationship for the basic fluid gyrator element may be derived with the aid of Equation 1 as follows:

"=Fluid impedance across the primary terminals Qv of the reaction chamber Q =Flu1d lmpedance across the secondary ter- 8 minals of the reaction chamber u=Linear velocity w=Angular velocity g=Acceleration of gravity subscripts:

p=Primary s=Secoridary C=Coriolis.

Since Equation 1 applies to forces and angular and linear velocities which are mutually perpendicular, it may be written as:

F =2mw u (2) Equations 2 and 3 written in terms of density become:

Also, since AF=F/A and Q=Au, Equations 4 and 5 become:

Equations 6 and 7 show the secondary differential pressure to be a function of the priary flow and spin velocity and the primary dilferential pressure to be a function of s6econdary flow and spin velocity. Also from Equations and 7 sQs DQD APB Qs P V 1 2- z Q9 e g ADAE One embodiment of the fluid gyrator transformer for carrying out the method of the present invention as shown in FIGURE 2 comprises a rotatable housing generally designated at 10. Housing has integral, axially spaced annular flanges 12 and 14 supported by ball bearing units 16 and 18 on the arms 20 and 22, respectively, of a supporting frame 24 so that the housing 10 is rotatable about spin axis 26.

A spin drive shaft 28 connected to be driven by any suitable external power source such as the variable speed electric motor 30 is rotatably supported by a ball bearing unit 32 on arm 34 of supporting frame 24. Motor 30 has a manual speed control 35 and an electrically operated speed control 36 for varying the motor speed. A spur gear 37 rigidly secured to drive shaft 23 meshes with an annular spur gear 38 rigidly secured to a hub 40 provided on housing 10. Thus, the housing 10 can be spun about spin axis 26 by the electric motor spin drive at a variable speed.

The rotatable housing 10, as best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, has loop-shaped flow passages 42 and 44 having bends which intersect at right angles and provide a common reaction chamber 46 which is generally rectangularly shaped and centered on spin axis 26. Each loop-shaped passage provides a mean effective flow path as shown by the arrows on a plane bisecting the passage and passing through the spin axis, the two planes being at right angles. The fluid transformer is fully reversible as will become more apparent from the following description and in this instance flow passage 42 serves to direct the primary flow and passage 44 directs the secondary flow.

The rotary and stationary, primary and secondary transformer passages and associated structure are similar and the following description of the primary transformer structure applies to the secondary transformer structure whose corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals but primed. Flow passage 42 comprises an inlet passage 48 for directing fluid to the reaction chamber and an outlet passage 50 for directing fluid from the reaction chamber. The inlet and outlet passages act as pump and motor elements respectively to simultaneously supply and extract the energy required to spin the fluid so that no ex ternal power is required for this function neglecting mechanical and fluid friction losses. As best shown in FlG- URES 2 and 5, inlet passage 48 has a circular flow area entrance 52 centered on the spin axis and gradually turns outward from the spin axis while smoothly transforming to a generally rectangular flow area shape and then makes a smooth bend diverging radially inward to meet reaction chamber 46. Outlet passage 50 projects radially outward from the reaction chamber diametrically opposite from the inlet passage and chamber connection and then gradually bends inward toward the spin axis with the bend occurring at the same radius as inlet passage 48. Outlet passage 50 has the same flow area shape as inlet passage 48 until it saddles the inlet passage 48 as shown atone axial location by the quarter moon flow area shape in FIGURE 6 as it approaches the spin axis and then encompasses the inlet passage to terminate in an annular flow area exit 58 concentric with entrance 52.

The flow area and mean effective flow path radii of outlet passage 50 and therefore the products of these two factors are the same as inlet passage 48 up to the vicinity where the inlet passage saddles the outlet passage so that the centrifugal fluid forces developed in these portions of the passages balance or offset each other during fluid flow while the housing is being spun. The mean effective flow path radii in the inlet and outlet passages are unequal in the region where the passages overlap. The radii differences are small however and therefore the centrifugal fluid force differential between the overlapping inlet and outlet passages is small. A closer balance of the centrifugal fluid forces in the overlapping region may be obtained by increasing the effective radius of the internal inlet passage as it proceeds toward the reaction chamber.

Both the inlet passage 48 and outlet passage 50 are connected to stationary fluid ports or passages so that there is no substantial spin velocity associated with a fluid particle just entering the inlet passage and just leaving the outlet passage. The coupling comprises a collar 60 integral with frame 24. Collar 60, as best shown in FIG- URES 2 and 5, has a bore 62 centered on the spin axis in which a tube 64 also centered on the spin axis is secured by streamline struts 66, the interior of tube 64 providing a stationary circular fluid passage 67. The inside diameter of tube 64 is the same as that of entrance 52 of the inlet passage and the stationary tube and rotary inlet passage have contacting overlapping edges providing a seal therebetween. The annular exit 58 of the outlet passage aligns with and matches the stationary annular fluid passage 68 provided by the exterior of tube 64 and bore 62 with the stationary collar 60 and the rotary housing having contacting, overlapping edges providing a seal therebetween.

There is no substantial power required to bring a particle of fluid from zero spin velocity to a spin velocity greater than zero about the spin axis and subsequently to Zero velocity since there are no substantial resultant centrifugal forces resulting from the pump and motor action of the inlet and outlet passages 48, 48', 50, 50' and no substantial spin velocities associated with a fluid particle just entering the inlet passage entrances 52, 52' and just leaving the outlet passage exits 58, 58. Thus, the transformer requires substantially only mechanical and fluid friction loss power to be supplied by the spin drive to maintain rotation of the housing for fluid power transformation at a constant angular velocity and the additional power required to accelerate the rotary mass to meet the inertia loads when changing the angular velocity. Since the fluid losses Within the device are confined to the flow losses which are held to low values the device provides high efficiency fluid power transformation.

The fluid power transformer is illustrated as being adapted to provide power transformation in a power system between a hydraulic power source which may be the hydraulic positive displacement gear type pump 70 driven by an engine 71 having a variable speed and a hydraulic load which may be the motor 72. The pump 70 draws liquid from a sump 73 through an intake line 74 and discharges the liquid under pressure to a discharge line 76 connected to the primary stationary inlet passage 67. The primary stationary outlet passage 68 is connected by a return line 7 S to the sump. The secondary stationary outlet passage 68 is connected by a delivery line 80 to the intake port of the motor whose outlet port is connected by a return line 82 to the stationary inlet passage '67.

These particular connections of the secondary flow passage 44 to the motor lines 80 and 82 are dictated by the spin direction shown in FIGURE 2 and would be reversed if the spin direction was reversed. Furthermore, the connections of the primary flow passage 42 to lines 76 and 78 can be reversed and the secondary flow passage connected to the motor lines to provide the proper flow direction to motor 72 as determined by the primary connections and spin direction. In addition, the flow passage 42 can serve as the secondary flow passage and flow passage 44 can serve as the primary flow passage because of their congruity.

An electronic control circuit for automatically controlling spin speed to provide regulated pressure in delivery line 80 comprises a power source 86, a switch for completing this circuit and a pressure transducer 88 which senses the pressure in delivery line 80 and translates it into an electric signal. The signal is transmitted to the electric signal speed responsive motor control 36 to control the speed of motor 30 as discussed later.

Describing now the operation of the fluid power transformer and its application to the power system, the input power represented by that power delivered to the liquid by the pump 70 is transmitted to the fluid power transformer where it serves as the transformers primary power and is converted into secondary power which is transmitted to drive motor 72 by spinning the housing 10 by operation of motor 30. Since the fluid impedance product at the primary and secondary reaction chamber terminals of the transformer is a function of the square of the spin velocity, the ratio of the differential pressures of the primary and secondary flows which ratio is also the torque ratio across the transformer and therefore between pump 70 and motor 72, may be infinitely varied over the speed range of the spin drive motor 30 with manual control 35. At any engine speed and assuming the motor has a fixed displacement, the speed of motor 72 would vary directly with torque ratio to provide a variable speed and torque ratio transmission. When regulation of the pressure and flow rate of the liquid delivered to motor 72 is desired while the speed of engine 71 and accordingly the primary flow and pressure varies, the electronic circuit is conditioned for operation by closing switch 90. Any variance from a predetermined pressure in delivery line 80 causes the spin speed of the transformer to change to establish a new fluid impedance product to restore the predetermined pressure in the delivery line and accordingly the flow rate to provide a pressure regulating system for any use such as the motor in the above described embodiment.

In the FIGURE 7 embodiment of the fluid gyrator transformer for carrying out the method of the present invention, the flow passages extend from one end of the transformer to the other end. Each flow passage has congruent inlet and outlet passages providing identical pump and motor elements having equal energy capacities for energy supply and extraction to provide the energy balance so that no substantial external power from the spin drive is required for this function neglecting mechanical and fluid friction losses.

Describing the FIGURE 7 structure, housing 110 is supported at its opposite ends by ball bearing units 116 and 118 on the arms 120 and 122 of the supporting frame 124 so that the housing is rotatable about the spin axis 126. The spin drive shaft 128 is rotatably supported by the ball bearing unit 132 on the supporting frame. The gear 136 rigidly secured to the spin motor driven shaft 128 meshes with gear 138 rigidly secured to housing 110.

The rotary housing 110 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 has S-shaped flow passages 142 and 144 which intersect at right angles at their mid-point and provide a common reaction chamber 146 which is generally rectangularly shaped and centered on spin axis 126. Each S-shaped passage provides a mean effective flow path as shown by the arrows on a plane bisecting the passage and passing through the spin axis, the two planes being at right angles. The fluid transformer is fully reversible like the FIGURE 2 embodiment and flow passage 142. will be described as serving to direct the primary flow and flow passage 144 will be described as serving to direct the secondary flow.

Flow passage 142 as best shown in FIGURE 7 comprises an inlet passage 148 for directing fluid to the reaction chamber 146 and an outlet passage 150 for directing fluid from the reaction chamber. Inlet passage 148 has a circular flow area entrance 152 centered on the spin axis and gradually turns outward from the spin axis while smoothly transforming to a generally rectangular flow area shape and then makes a smooth bend diverging radially inward to meet reaction chamber 146. Outlet passage 150 projects radially outward ;firom the reaction chamber diametrically opposite from the inlet passage and chamber connection and gradually bends inward toward the spin axis with the bend occurring at the same radius as inlet passage 148. Outlet passage 150 has a flow area shape and radii identical to the inlet passage throughout its length and terminates in a circular flow area exit 158 centered on the spin axis and at the opposite end of the rotatable housing.

The inlet passage 160 of the other flow passage 144 has an annular flow area entrance 162 as shown in FIGURE 7 encompassing and concentric with the exit 158 of flow passage 142 and gradually turns outward from the spin axis and saddles the outlet passage 150 of flow passage 142 as shown at one axial location in FIGURE 9. 'In continuing outward, inlet passage 160 smoothly transforms to a generally rectangular flow area shape and then makes a smooth bend diverging radially inward to meet reaction chamber 146 as shown in FIGURE 8. The outlet passage 164 projects radially outward from the reaction chamber diametrically opposite from the inlet passage and chamber connection and gradually bends inward from the spin axis with the bend occurring at the same radius as the inlet passage 160. Outlet passage 164 has the same flow area shape and radii as inlet passage 160 throughout its length and saddles the inlet passage 148 of flow passage 142 as it approaches the spin axis and terminates in an annular flow area exit 166 surrounding and concentric with entrance 152 of flow passage 142.

The flow passages 142 and 144 are connected at their ends to stationary fluid ports or passages at the opposite ends of a rotary housing like in the FIGURE 2 embodiment. The couplings are similar and the following description of the right-hand coupling applies to the lefthand coupling whose corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals but primed. The right-hand coupling has a collar 168 integral with the frame. The collar has a bore connected on the spin axis in which a tube 170 is secured by streamline struts, the interior of the tube providing a stationary circular fluid passage 172 matching the circular passage of flow passage 142. The stationary tube 170 and rotary flow passage 142 have contacting overlapping edges providing a seal therebetween. The stationary annular fluid passage 176 provided by the exterior of tube 170 and the collar bore matches the annular rotary passage of flow passage 144 with the collar and rotary housing having contacting overlapping edges providing a seal between passages 176 and 144.

In connecting the FIGURE 7 fluid transformer in the power system as shown in FIGURE 2 assuming the spin direction indicated by the arrow the stationary primary inlet passage 172 would be connected to line 76, the stationary primary outlet passage 172' would be connected to line 78, the stationary secondary outlet passage 176 would be connected to line '80 and the stationary secondary inlet passage 176' would be connected to line 82. With the FIGURE 7 fluid transformer connected in the power system as indicated above, it performs the same operation as described for the FIGURE 2 embodiment.

Thus, it will be observed that among the several advantages of the above-described method and apparatus for producing same, my fluid transformer, which has been demonstrated operating on liquid and will equally operate on gas, is governed by the same Coriolis force equation as other gyroscopic devices and is fundamentally a lossless impedance converter or substantially perfect fluid transformer. Furthermore, the fluid transformer is fully reversible. In addition, the fluid transformer can receive an unregulated fluid pressure and flow rate in its primary flow passage and deliver a regulated pres sure flow rate in its secondary flow passage since the fluid transformer is capable of receiving a primary flow rate at one impedance and delivering a secondary flow rate at another impedance with the fluid impedance product controlled by the spin velocity. Thus, a primary fluid flow having, for example, a high pressure and low flow rate can be converted by my transformer into a secondary flow having a low pressure and high flow rate and vice-versa. Thus, a fluid pressure source such as a pump and the transformer provides a system for controlling pressure and/ or flow in the fluid outlet passage. As pointed out above the control may use a pressure transducer or sensor and thus be responsive to outlet pressure.

It will also be appreciated that this control could use a flow sensor and be flow responsive. When the outlet passage is connected to a fluid motor, a controllable fluid transmission is provided. The system with a positive displacement pump and motor, which may have a fixed or variable displacement provides a variable speed and torque ratio transmission. A system with a turbine type motor without reaction would provide a variable speed transmission since the fluid losses associated with my method and device may be held to laminar flow losses, large shock losses are avoided. In addition, the spin velocity of the fluid gyrator plays essentially the same role in my gyroscopic fluid power conversion as flux density plays in the case of electrical conversion devices to provide fluid power conversion without changing the physical geometry of the transformer. Furthermore, high spin velocities reduce the size and weight of the power conversion device as well as providing a low power source requirement for controlling the fluid impedance product.

The above-described method and apparatus is illustrative of the present invention which may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of transforming fluid power comprising the steps (1) establishing a primary fluid flow through an unobstructed reaction zone in a direction perpendicular to a spin axis; (2) spinning the fluid about the spin axis while it passes through the reaction zone to induce a secondary fluid flow at the reaction zone by action of the spinning fluid in a direction transverse to the primary fluid flow and perpendicular to the spin axis; and (3) simultaneously supplying and extracting the energy required to spin the fluid.

2. A method of transforming fluid power comprising the steps (1) establishing a primary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a spin axis; (2) continuously spinning the primary fluid in relation to the spin axis to continuously transform the power represented by the primary fluid flow into secondary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis and transverse to the primary flow direction without producing substantial resultant centrifugal forces in either flow direction.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 and (3) varying the spin velocity to vary the fluid impedance product of the flows.

4. A method of transforming fluid power comprising the steps (1) establishing a primary fluid flow in a direction substantially perpendicular to a spin axis; and (2) spinning the primary fluid to induce a primary differential pressure in the primary flow direction and a secondary fluid flow and secondary dilferential pressure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spin axis and the primary flow direction to convert the input power represented by the product of the primary mass flow rate and the primary differential pressure into output power represented by the secondary mass flow rate and the secondary differential pressure with the secondary differential pressure a function of the primary flow rate and the square of the spin velocity and the primary differential pressure a function of the secondary flow rate and the square of the spin velocity.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 and (3) varying the spin velocity to vary the product of the fluid impedances of the flows.

6. The method set forth in claim 4 and (3) varying the spin velocity to regulate the pressure of one of the flows.

7. The method set forth in claim 4 and (3) varying the spin velocity to regulate the flow rate of one of the flows.

8. A fluid gyrator transformer comprising a pair of rotary intersecting channels having a common axis of rotation; said channels having both their intersection and all of their ends centered on said axis; stationary passages continuously operatively connected to the ends of said channels; and means for spinning said channels.

9. A fluid gyrator transformer comprising primary and secondary fluid terminals continuously connected by an unobstructed reaction chamber and rotatable about a spin axis; means for establishing a primary fluid flow through said reaction chamber between said primary fluid terminals; and spin drive means for continuously spinning said terminals to induce by spinning fluid action at said reaction chamber a continuous secondary fluid flow between said secondary fluid terminals in a direction transverse to said primary fluid flow.

10. A fluid gyrator transformer comprising a rotary housing having intersecting primary and secondary fluid channels providing a reaction zone continuously open to said channels and centered on the housings axis of rotation; stationary fluid pass-ages for delivering fluid to and from said channels along said axis; and spin drive means for spinning said housing to convert primary fluid power in said primary channel at said reaction zone into secondary fluid power in said secondary channel with a fluid impedance product proportional to the spin speed.

11. A fluid gyrator transformer comprising rotary housing means having a reaction chamber centered on the housing means axis of rotation and primary and secondary fluid passage means with entrances and exits to said housing means all centered on said axis for delivering fluid to and from said reaction chamber with a linear velocity while simultaneously supplying and extracting energy required to spin the fluid; and spin driving \means for rotating said housing means so that the fluid power in said primary passage means is converted in said reaction chamber by the spinning fluid into fluid power in said secondary passage means.

12. A fluid transformer for transforming fluid power comprising a rotary reaction chamber rotatable relative to a spin axis; fluid passage means including rotary passages rotatable with said reaction chamber for conveying a primary fluid flow and a secondary fluid flow to and from said reaction chamber in primary and secondary intersecting, substantially radial flow directions relative to said spin axis without producing substantial resultant centrifugal fluid forces in either flow direction when said reaction chamber and rotary passages are spun; and drive means for spinning said reaction chamber and rotary passages.

13. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 12 and said fluid passage means including stationary passages centered on said spin axis operatively connected to said rotary passages.

14. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 12 and said reaction chamber centered on said spin axis, each said rotary passage having an entrance and an exit centered on said spin axis.

15. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 12 and each said rotary passage having a loop-shape and circumferentially adjacent entrance and exit at one side of said reaction chamber.

16. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 12 and each said rotary passage having an S-shape and an entrance and exit on opposite sides of said reaction chamber.

17. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 12 and said drive means including a variable speed power source.

18. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 14 and each said rotary passage comprising an inlet passage and an outlet passage, respectively, connecting its entrance and exit and said reaction chamber, each said inlet passage diverging outward from its entrance and diverging radially inward to said reaction chamber, each said outlet passage extending radially outward from said reaction chamber diametrically opposite the associated inlet passage connection to said reaction chamber and diverging inward to its exit.

19. The fluid transformer set forth in claim 18 and 928,775 7/ 1909 Mathis 230-108 said inlet and outlet passages connected to said reaction 2,440,865 5/1948 Lynch 230'108 chamber so that the primary and secondary radial flow 2,526,618 10/1950 Darrieus. directions are at substantially right angles to each other. 3,046,732 7/1962 Foa.

5 3,212,443 10/1965 Hosterman. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner.

372,072 10/1887 Horne 230108 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Assistant Examiner. 

